Transcript of Obama’s Remarks Nominating Sen. Kerry

Here is the White House transcript of President Barack Obama‘s remarks announcing the nomination of Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.) to be secretary of state, succeeding Hillary Clinton.

Roosevelt Room

1:40 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone. When I took office, our nation was engaged in two wars, and al Qaeda was entrenched in their safe havens. Many of our alliances were frayed, and America’s standing in the world had suffered.

Over the past four years, we’ve begun a new era of American leadership. We ended the war in Iraq, put the al Qaeda core on the path to defeat, and we’re winding down the war in Afghanistan. We’ve strengthened our alliances, including in Asia; forged new coalitions to meet global challenges; and stood up for human dignity, from North Africa to the Middle East to Burma. We still, of course, face great challenges. But today, I can say with pride that the United States is safer, stronger and more respected in the world…

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